Kapil Sibal, MPs Call for Judicial Transparency After Cash Found at Delhi HC Judge’s Residence:

Senior advocate and Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal raised concerns over corruption in the judiciary after a significant amount of cash was found at Delhi High Court judge Justice Yashwant Varma’s residence. The cash was discovered after a fire broke out at the judge’s official residence in Delhi.

Kapil Sibal Calls for Transparent Judge Appointments

Speaking to ANI, Sibal stressed the urgency for reform in the judge appointment process. "The issue of corruption within the judiciary is serious and long-standing. The Supreme Court must reassess how appointments are made and ensure the process is transparent," he stated. Sibal also claimed that corruption has increased despite government claims to the contrary.

#WATCH | Delhi | On the Supreme Court Collegium recommending transfer of Justice Yashwant Varma of the Delhi High Court to his parent High Court in Allahabad after an adverse report against him, Senior advocate and Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal says, "...The issue of corruption… pic.twitter.com/hPQPqeT57t
— ANI (@ANI) March 21, 2025

Jairam Ramesh Raises Issue in Rajya Sabha

Congress MP Jairam Ramesh also brought up the incident in the Rajya Sabha. Referring to both the cash recovery and an earlier notice regarding a judge of the Allahabad High Court, Ramesh urged for action. "There is an urgent need for judicial accountability. The government should propose a mechanism to ensure this," he said.

Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar responded by stating he would consult the Leader of the House and the Leader of the Opposition to enable a structured discussion on the matter.

Indira Jaising Questions Collegium Transparency

Senior advocate Indira Jaising criticized the functioning of the Supreme Court collegium. She called for a full disclosure of the amount of cash recovered and demanded that the collegium take responsibility for revealing facts once they became aware of the incident.

In-House Inquiry Initiated by Supreme Court

Media reports have confirmed that the Supreme Court has begun an in-house investigation into Justice Varma’s case. Previously, the Collegium decided to transfer him back to the Allahabad High Court, where he served prior to his appointment to the Delhi High Court in October 2021.

The incident occurred when a fire broke out at his official residence. Justice Varma was not present at the time. Family members alerted authorities, and after the fire was brought under control, officials found a large amount of cash inside a room, leading to formal documentation of the recovery.